Curtain-roller.



C. L. BUNDY 61: W. GRANT.

CURTAIN ROLLER. I APPLICATION FILED Amm, 1914.

1J @@Q Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

n srs autr CYPJUS I.. BUNDY, OF EAST ORANGE, AND 'WILLIAM GRANT, OFlASSAIC, NEUV JERSEY.

CURTAIN-ROLLER.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Application filed August 3, 1914. Serial No. 854,834.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CYuUs L. BUNDY and lViLLiAM GRANT, citizens of theUnited States, residing at East Grange, in the county of Essex, andPassaic, in the county of Passaic, New Jersey, respectively, haveinvented certain new and useful llmprcvements in Curtain-Rollers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to curtain fixtures of that type wherein thespring-actuated roller is mounted in brackets within the window frameand is held at an adjusted height by slices bearing frictionally againstthe casing within guides provided for the purpose, the roller springexerting a constant tension to elevate the curtain by rotating theroller.

ln order that the roller spring shall at all times be under sufiicienttension as it lifts the curtain from its lowermost to its uppermostposition, it is necessary that the spring shall be under a certaintension even when the curtain is fully wound up and in order to maintainthis initial tension of the spring while installing the curtain rollerand its brackets it is usual to employ a pawl or other detent whereby tohold the spring, spindle and roller against relative movement until thespear head of the spindle is safely engaged within its bracket and thenin some manner to release such detent in order to allow the spring toexert its force on the roller.

IThe primary object of the present invention is the provision of animproved detent arrangement facilitating the release of the same afterthe mounting of the curtain and adapted for easy reengagement when it isdesired for any reason to remove the curtain from the window.

In order that the invention may be readily understood a preferredembodiment of the same is set forth in the accompanying drawing and inthe subjoincd detailed description based thereon. As, however, theinvention is capable of embodiment in other and various constructionalforms the drawing and description are to be taken in an illustrative andnot in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

ln the drawing- Figure 1 is an end View of a curtain roller showing thespindle engaged by the detent; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinalsection through the shade roller illustrating the mounting of thedetent; and

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the detent disassociated from theroller.

ln the drawings the reference numeral 11 designates the barrel of theroller within which is axially mounted the spindle 12 provided with theusual spear head 13 and connected with the barrel by means of a torsionspring 141. The spindle has its end bearing within the cylindricalflange 15 of an end plate 16 fitted within the end of the roller, thisgeneral construction being well known in curtain rollers. Extendinglaterally from the spindle 12 is a projection 17 which occupies aposition within the depression of the end plate 16 with its outer endclosely adjacent the shell of the roller.

The roller shell is slitted at 18 and 19 and depressed therebetween insuch manner as to form a guiding support for the detent 2O which isslidably mounted immediately below but substantially iiush with theperipheral surface of the roller. rlhis detent is in the form of ametallic strip ,having a terminal lip 21 which projects inwardly fromthe periphery of the roller in the plane of the projection 17 and isshiftable longitudinally of the roller from such position to a retractedposition out of the plane of said projection. The detent is providedwith an operating button 22 whereby it may be reciprocated and is alsoprovided adjacent the lip 21 with a stop Q3 adapted to engage the end ofthe recessed portion 11 of the roller shell so as to limit the extent ofinward movement of the detent, the engagement of the button 2Q with theshell at the slit 19 limiting the outward movement of the detent.

When it is desired to install the fixture, the spring 14 is placed underan initial tension by rotating the spindleby means of the spear head andthe detent is moved outwardly by means of the button 22 so as to engagethe projection 17 with its lip 21. The curtain is then completely woundupon the roller and the latter is placed in position with the ends ofthe spindle engaging within the brackets of the window. rlhereupon thedetent is forced inwardly by the pressure of the finger or a suitabletool upon the lip 21 so as to retract the lip out of engagement with theprojection 17. Or, and preferably owing to the fact that the lip in theend of the roller is often diiiicult of access, the spring is placedunder its ultimate degree of tension by the rotation of the spindle andis then placed within the brackets in an un Wound condition With thebutton 22 uncovered and eXposed. By means of the button, the detent isthen moved out of the plane of the projection. In either case the rolleris left free to rotate under the infiuence ol" the spring 14 acting toWind the curtain thereon and opposed only by the friction shoes or otherrestraining devices in ordinary use for this purpose in connection withthis type of curtain fixture.

IVe claim:

l. In a curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagementWithin supporting` brackets and provided with a lateral projection, aspring connecting the barrel and spindle, and a locking detent slidablelongitudinally on the barrel into and out oil the path of the projectionand having an operative portion accessible only When the curtain isunwound.

2. In a curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagementWithin the supporting brackets and provided with a lateral projection, atorsion spring connecting the barrel and spindle, and a locking detentslidable longitudinally on the barrel substantially flush With theperipheral surface thereof into and out of the path of the projection,said dctent normally covered by the curtain but accessible for actuationwhen the curtain is unwound.

3. In a curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagementwithin supporting brackets and provided with a lateral projection, aspring connecting the barrel and spindle, and a detent slidablelongitudinally on the barrel into and out of the path oil theprojection, said d'etent comprising a metallic strip mounted withinguides formed in the shell of the barrel and having an exterior-lyaccessible portion whereby the detent may be operated.

4. In a curtain roller, a barrel, a spindle adapted for engagementwithin the support ing brackets and provided with a lateral projection,a torsion spring connecting the barrel and spindle, and a detentslidable lougitudinally on the barrel substantially flush with theperipheral surface thereof into and out of the path of the projection,said (letent comprising a metallic strip mounted Within guides formed inthe shell ot the barrel and having an operating button uormally coveredby the curtain but accessible when the curtain is unwound from thebarrel.

CYRUS L. BUNDI. WM. GRANT.

Witnesses:

ALFRED ZIMMER, JAMES A. ODoNNnLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

